B-sides and Belonging

Everyone has a soundtrack to their life; they have songs that attach themselves to moments and people without their choosing. They simply are there, and suddenly become the melody you carry with those memories. As my time on WASB comes to a close, I’ve found myself slowing down, pausing, and allowing myself to look back on my time. When I was planning this blog, I wanted to communicate how much my experience has meant to me, but I didn’t know how, yet I kept coming back to music. So that’s how I’ve chosen to tell this story, through the soundtrack to my WASB experience.

Blue Skies – Allman Brothers Band

After my second interview for WASB, I remember walking home with my roommate, and the now-standing president, Simon Brown, somewhat freaking out at the fact that we were now a part of something that would make an impact on campus. As we made our way back to the dorm room, neither of us could stop talking, or smiling for that matter. It was one of those moments in life where you just had to stop and eat a peach. I had Blue Skies by the Allman Brothers Band stuck in my head for some reason I couldn’t explain at the time, but as I look back on it fondly now, it makes perfect sense. The song is less about the weather and more of a feeling, like there is something coming up on the horizon, and good is going to come. That is exactly what that walk home was.

That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding

My first WASB retreat feels like something of a fever dream now. Being greeted with 65 fresh faces and trying to remember the names of people I had met for a brief moment four months before. It was scary and a daunting thing when I first walked into 650 N. Lake Street for the first time, being an official WASB. But somewhere in between the bus ride to camp and the early morning wakeups, something shifted. It wasn’t that I was just learning the names of the people around me; I was learning who they were as people. I was learning that this group is the kind of people who show up for you without being asked, who give tenfold what they take, and who can make you feel as if they’ve known you for years in a few short minutes. Though That’s How Strong My Love Is was written for a lover, it’s understood that there is something universal about the feeling of finding your people, and the quiet, yet overwhelming, certainty that you would do anything for them, and they would do the same for you.

Walk of Life – Dire Straits

There is something about the walk to the alumni building on a Wednesday night that never gets old. Often, the walk starts with Simon and me attempting to solve the problems of the world, and somewhere along the way, you run into another member, and if you’re lucky, another, and by the time you’ve reached the door of the alumni building, you’ve got a convoy headed in. All laughing about something that happened to someone or a silly story being told. Dire Straits wrote Walk of Life as a celebration of someone who found their thing and never let go of it. It's for the people who show up every time, with everything they have. That is what the walk to WASB meetings feels like to me. When I was a new member and still trying to figure out my place in the org, I walked in nervously. Now, as a team director, I walk in with a different feeling entirely. The feeling is something akin to joy, or maybe even pride. Not a pride that I find in myself, but in the room that I am about to walk into. All the familiar faces, warm hugs, and noise spilling through the door as it begins to open. Every time I make that walk to the alumni building, I am reminded that this is my thing, and I never want to let go of it.

How Lucky – John Prine

John Prine wrote How Lucky as a simple observation. To look around, look at what you have, and think about how you got so lucky to be there. I’ve thought about those sentiments a lot as my time in WASB draws closer to its end. For me, it’s not the big events or milestones that come to mind when I think of what this organization has meant to me. It’s the small moments in between. It’s the quiet seconds before a meeting closes when the room is full and buzzing. The walks across campus and lunches with people you didn’t know two years ago that I now can’t imagine my life without. It’s the brief pause to look around a room and realize that everyone chose to be there and chose to give a piece of themselves for the person next to them. I never understood how rare that was when I first joined as a freshman, but I understand it now. Lucky is an understatement, but it’s the closest word I can find for this organization and the people it’s given me.

Lastly, Alexa, play Landslide by Fleetwood Mac.

My Why WASB: Belonging in My WASB Community

By the time this gets posted, I will be safely across the pond in Sevilla, Spain! Wow, I can’t believe it. I know myself pretty well, and I estimate that I will have cried approximately 14 times since being in Spain about how much I miss all my family, friends, and my dear, dear WASBies. That’s not to say I won’t be having the time of my life, but having people and places to miss is something to be grateful for. Even making these estimates is entirely crazy, considering that just two years ago I was looking to go abroad for an entire year because of how much I hated Madison. I wanted to get out of there. And now, it breaks my heart to leave. I owe much of this change to no other org but WASB. 

When applying to college, I always asked my mom, “Okay, but is it me, will I like it there?” and every time she responded with, “College is what you make it. You can go anywhere and have a good time.” I wanted to believe her so badly, but after an entire year of joining numerous clubs and trying new things, I still wanted to leave Madison. There was no explanation. I liked the people, I liked the scenery, I liked my classes, but there was just something that kept pushing me away. Still, I decided to stick it out for one more semester, and that’s when I ended up applying to WASB.

During my WASB interview, I was asked, “Why WASB? Why’d you apply?” A classic question. Now, my answer is simple: the lovely people. But in the interview, I explained that I applied because of my freshman year self. The events WASB puts on are things I needed my first year but never made it to. Maybe if I had attended the W Project, gone to the All-Campus Swap, or listened to inspiring talks by professors at COW, I would have fallen in love with being a Badger a lot earlier.

I’m not one to focus on the past, though. I told those sitting in on my interview that I made a promise to myself after freshman year that I would do anything and everything I could to make Madison my home. WASB made Madison feel a lot smaller, but it made my impact on campus feel a whole lot bigger. Sometimes all you need is the right group of people to show you how much there is to love about the place you’re in. 

Everyone deserves to find community in life, and the path to that looks different for all. It comes down to finding a place and people that let you truly be yourself. You don’t have to change your location to change your perspective, and that’s what I’ve found being on WASB. They remind me that life is a lot sillier than I realized and to not take things so seriously, but instead find the fun and love in life.

Stripped down to a bare word, WASB to me is “belonging.” I felt like I belonged as soon as I joined. They made it feel like there was always a space for me there, I was just now stepping into it. That feeling stuck with me, the unmistakable thought that, “I do belong here. These people don’t even know me yet, and they believe in me.” My friends describe WASB as Bucky’s cheerleading squad, and while that may be true, I like to think of us more as cheerleaders for our fellow Badgers and for each other.

My first semester on WASB, a senior, Carly Shindler, said that we won’t even realize how unique and special a community like WASB is until years later. We’ll look back and wish to be in these moments again, but I’m not there yet. Right now, I’m in the middle of my college experience, with so much to look back on and look forward to. I keep her words in the back of my mind, to be present, to be grateful, and to feel lucky. I fully intend to take this mindset to Spain. It will be hard at first and I might feel like a fish out of water, but I know I have it in me to make it feel like my community. Studying abroad will be an adventure of a lifetime, and I hope I meet the people and places along the way that make it feel like home, just like how WASB made Madison feel like one.

I have so much to do abroad, so many things to see, so many people to meet, and so many new things to experience. But I can’t help but think the same about Madison. There will always be people to get to know more, conversations to be had, smiles shared, and hugs exchanged. I know my time in Europe will be more than amazing, but I also know I’ll be coming home to something that means just as much to me. So to everyone in Madison and WASB, my love for you and this community transcends continents, and I cannot wait to see you all again. Have a great semester, I’ll be watching from a thousand miles away. Many hugs and kisses! 

All my love,

Riley Sarsany

P.S. remember it’s always okay to cry when Landslide comes on

A Brilliant Badger Buddy Breakthrough

As my semester as a new member comes to a close, it feels funny to reflect on my first- ever WASB memory. I think most WASBs would describe their first moment as a WASB as chaotic and full of heightened emotions. But it is also the moment we each get to meet our Badger Buddy! A Badger Buddy is every new member’s first point of integration into the org, and they are always there to offer support and guidance, especially during your first semester. When I found out I was accepted into WASB last spring, I was immediately thrown into a crowd of 64 new faces. Though overwhelming, having my WASB mom, Jaclyn, there to lead the way made it infinitely easier.

As unfortunate as it was that I had to wait three months for my in person WASB experience to begin at Fall Retreat, both Jaclyn and Mason (my WASB dad who I had yet to meet – I am lucky enough to have two!) made it easy to be excited to come back to campus. Mid-summer check ins via photo dump were a great way to stay in contact and get to know my new Wamily. The same night that I met Jaclyn, a senior on the org told me that she felt jealous that us new members still had the rest of our college careers on WASB. Even while WASBs were sprinkled all over the country and world over summer break, my Badger Buddies made sure that I felt the WASB love that the now graduated senior spoke so highly of. 

Since then, I have gone on coffee dates with my Badger Buddies, Wamily walks, and even an extended Wamily dinner. What is an extended Wamily, you may ask? The greater WASB family is connected through shared Badger Buddy parents, grandparents, cousins, and every other possible (and sometimes impossible) familial connection. For me, there are six active members of my Wamily, including my great grandpa Simon, my grandparents Seth and India, and my lovely parents Mason and Jaclyn. But the lineage is even stronger than that: at WASBs Come Home earlier this semester, we got to meet an alum who is also part of my extended Wamily! Although it can still feel like a lot to be on a team of 65 amazing WASBs, having a small group of members that truly feels like a family that I can rely on makes the experience so much better. Fellow new member Maya put it best: “While I look up to lot of the older members and even members in my year that have been on WASB for several semesters longer than me, I always find myself gravitating toward my badger buddies,”; these are the very first people we get to form a relationship with on the org. 

The Badger Buddy program is incredibly impactful for new members, but it also allows more experienced WASBs to connect with new members and help inspire the next leaders of WASB. When I asked Molly, a senior on WASB, about her Badger Buddy experiences, she told me that not only did her Badger Buddy make her feel welcome on the org, but she inspired Molly with her passion and energy. This was something that encouraged Molly to have her own Badger Buddy; she wanted to pay it forward to the next generation of members.  

One tradition I loved from our semester retreat was new member introductions. Before we got on the bus to Hoofbeat Ridge, each new member was introduced by their Badger Buddy, who jointly created a T-shirt covered with an assortment of random facts and hot takes. Spending that ten minutes with Mason and Jaclyn made me even more excited for the retreat than I was before. That’s exactly what I look forward to when I eventually have a WASBaby of my own.

Putting yourself out there by applying to WASB can be daunting, so being able to help a new member feel comfortable at the start of their WASB journey is something I can’t wait to do. At retreat, this shirt served as a conversation starter to help me get to know the other members of the org. Now, it is a reminder of one of my first WASB memories with my Badger Buddies that I get to keep forever. 

Both Mason and Jaclyn are studying abroad next semester, so my active Wamily will be cut in half temporarily. With that said, I know that I will always be able to find a Badger family through my Badger Buddies, no matter how far away they are. Although I am not quite ready to be a Badger mom myself yet, I hope that by the time they come home in the spring, we will have a new WASB to welcome to the family!

A Semester of Wins: Honoring the Achievements of WASBies

My dear friend and fellow WASB, Mihika, recently said something that I found so profound, yet based on the simplest of truths. When I asked her why she’d deleted Instagram, she responded along the lines of, “I have everyone I love in my life within a mile of me, and that’s not always going to be true. So, I want to take advantage of that and truly spend time with them while I can.” 

I think this act of disconnecting to connect is a major accomplishment. Especially in an age when phones are an extension of our being, and a short moment of freedom is often pervaded by scrolling on social media. During this interaction, I wondered aloud if she herself feels proud of this cleanse. She confirmed that yes, she does, because it leaves her with more time to explore her friendships, hobbies, our wonderful city, and generally just exist in the present moment.

This conversation led me to question what the rest of WASB is proud of this semester. In an org filled with such talented, hardworking, and passionate people, I knew I was bound to learn of some really cool achievements. Whether it serves as a way for you to reflect on your own feats, inspires you to set new goals, or just reminds you that deep down, us students are all striving to do better and be better, I implore you to keep reading. 

One thing I love so much about WASB is its ability to bring together people from all different academic backgrounds. We have students studying business, engineering, pre-med, poli-sci, art and everything in between. This makes for an extremely diverse array of goals and accomplishments! For example, after a long journey of determining her path, senior India Leinweber was accepted into the UW Nursing School. After facing obstacles with difficult classes, following her dream of studying abroad in Seville, Spain, and committing to the nursing path a bit later on, she is now officially on track to becoming a nurse. Through all of those experiences, she says she learned so much and doesn’t regret her less traditional journey at all. 

On the note of healthcare paths, junior WASB Jaclyn Copeland is studying for the MCAT. I have borne witness to her long study sessions, hundreds of flashcards, intense whiteboard diagramming, and yet she maintains a drive and excitement for her future that I find so admirable. New member Ugo Adarve was also just accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program as a sophomore! Knowing Jaclyn, India, and Ugo personally, there are few that match their positivity and kindness, and they are going to make a true difference in the lives of future patients. 

Another new member, Zoe Cole, says she’s proud of creating new connections with people in her major. Studying Electrical Engineering, she says it’s been a bit hard to find people she connected with in class. So, she started going to the Society of Women Engineers and has met so many more people. All of the new friendly faces help make her identify more with what she’s studying, and she’s proud of herself for carving out time in her busy schedule to foster new relationships!

Outside of class and studies, several WASBs participate in the many research labs on campus. Nina Anglim, a junior on WASB, was just promoted to first author on an abstract at the Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Lab. She will hopefully be traveling to Boston in April to present her findings! It’s beyond cool to see my peers contributing to our growing understanding of the world.

Something WASB heavily promotes is holistic involvement on campus. Our members are a part of so many different communities on campus, which helps inform the perspectives they bring to WASB. Namely, new WASB Isaac Solverson is also the President of TEDxUWMadison, where he is in charge of bringing people to talk to the student body. He recently confirmed the CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to come speak with attendees next semester. With the architect’s ties to our state and influence on architecture in Madison and all across the world, this is absolutely a moment to be proud of! 

A second-semester WASB, Sydney Wood, also recently began a radio show with her friend Reagan on WSUM. Called Hot Seat, they intertwine guest interview questions with an awesome set of music, making for a super fun listen. I even got the chance to go on, and now I listen every Monday at 8 PM! 

Many of our members are also champions of non-profit fundraising efforts. Among them is another second-semester WASB, Riley Sarsany, who served as VP of Philanthropy for Alpha Chi Omega, and whose work helped raise over $40,000 for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS). She put countless hours into planning events to help accomplish this goal over the last year and the pride she takes in helping others is so commendable.

And I could never discount the athletic accomplishments of WASBs! Senior Annabel Allen ran the Madison Half-marathon in November, a goal she’s had since her first year at UW-Madison. Taking on solo-training, school work, and braving the sub-freezing weather on race day, she successfully completed 13.1 miles of running. That is no easy feat. What’s more is so many members of the org came out with signs and motivational energy to cheer on all of the WASB runners that day!

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention all of the work our members have done through and for WASB itself. Current members Annie Lysek and Sabrina Dean, along with now WASB graduate Carol Gross, were in charge of planning our org’s largest event during All Campus Party last spring, Lake Street Bash.  Despite complications with company partners and some unfortunate weather, the event remained an incredible success and Annie cites it was “one of the best days of [her] college career, 100%.” 

Two members of our Executive Director Team, Kathryn Stuckey and Seth Kruger, also point to a few things they are proud of. Kathryn leads the All Campus Party team, and says she is so proud of both how hard her team is pushing themselves to go outside the box with their events and of her co-director, Will Parrilli, who puts so much intention into the relationships he builds and events he helps plan. Seth, our Marketing Director, highlights how proud he is of revamping the WASB LinkedIn after years of inactivity. He notes that now “current members can share their professional accomplishments pertaining to event planning and executions, and alumni get a deeper dive and feature into some of the great things happening on campus.” That is truly what WASB is all about: connecting Badgers past, present, and future!

Now, in a way, writing this post has been an exercise in gratitude. I can’t believe how lucky I am to be surrounded by this many driven and achieving people – it’s a genuine testament to the community that WASB strives to create and nurture. What is most special about this organization is that one WASB’s accomplishment, one member’s pride, is a group win. Through it all, we can count on the support of our fellow WASBies, whether they’re wearing their white- and red-striped rugby or not. And that is what I am most proud of: that this community exists on the UW-Madison campus, and that I get to be a part of it.

by Mason Dean

Badger Voices Co-Chair, Campus and Community Engagement Team

From Bascom Hall to Steenbock Library: Which TV/Movie Characters are UW Campus Buildings?

Previous WASBlogs have touched on topics that emphasize the connectedness this organization fosters and thrives on. Sure, this is deep, but they haven’t been hitting a serious topic that one might expect from a WASB member writing a blog: what TV and movie characters represent different UW-Madison campus buildings? Writing this blog allows me to not only answer this question for myself, but also for all those on campus!  

333 East Campus Mall - Jake The Dog, “Adventure Time” 

In the hit cartoon series, “Adventure Time,” we follow Jake the Dog and Finn the Human on their adventures throughout the land of Ooo. Time and time again, Jake and Finn are asked to save the land from different monsters and issues that have plagued it for centuries. Jake the Dog has the special power to stretch into any shape or size, showing his true ability to adapt to any situation. 333 East Campus Mall demonstrates this same ability by meeting student needs. 333 East Campus Mall houses the University Health Services, a free healthcare service for students, the Student Activity Center, which includes a large study space and many student organizations, the Office of the Registrar, and more. 333 East Campus Mall, just like Jake the Dog, is there for you with any issue you may have and, time and time again, will save the day. 

Steenbock Memorial Library - Josie, “Bottoms” 

A favorite movie among many WASB members is “Bottoms.” In this film, Josie, played by Ayo Edebiri, is quiet and reserved, feeling as though she is unseen. Similarly, Steenbock Memorial Library is not often a library many students choose to utilize, or even know of. In “Bottoms,” Josie and her best friend, PJ, create a fight club for women to win over their crushes, Isabel and Hazel. In the end, Josie wins the heart of her crush, Isabel, but she had to go through a lot to do so. Steenbock Library, once given a chance by students, just like Josie, can win over your heart. It might be a little out of the way, but that does not mean it isn’t a great, quiet library that can help you get through finals season.

Education Building - Santana Lopez, “Glee”

In the hit late 2000s, early 2010s series, “Glee,” Santana Lopez was, in my opinion, the star character. She was by far the funniest and most talented member of the cast. If challenged to a singing competition, she almost always won. Similar to Santana, the Education school here at UW-Madison is ranked the best in the nation by US News. Additionally, the program’s prowess is matched by the beauty of the education building itself, which, in my personal opinion, is one of the best buildings on campus. Both of these legendary icons – The Education building and Santana Lopez – are the cream of the crop in their respective categories. 

Bascom Hall - Carrie Bradshaw “Sex and The City”

When writing this blog, I couldn’t help but wonder, how does Bascom Hall do it all? 

In the HBO series “Sex and the City,” Carrie Bradshaw is often seen balancing her career with her personal life, writing her column while still making time for interesting adventures with friends. Given her exciting social life, Carrie seems to be connected to everyone in New York City. Similarly, as the main fixture of campus, Bascom Hall is deeply connected to the Badger community and houses the offices of many departments and important figures, such as the chancellor and the dean of students. Just like Carrie Bradshaw, Bascom Hall can do it all.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association - Katara, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”

The building home to the Wisconsin Alumni Association and WASB is located right on the water of Lake Mendota. When WASBs need a place to go so they can feel connected and at peace (and inevitably run into other WASBs), they end up here, at the “A-House.” That dependable sense of comfort mirrors the role that Katara plays in the series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Katara is a water bender, meaning she can manipulate water and ice to defend herself and heal others. When Team Avatar was looking for a feeling of home, they often turned to Katara, their reliable, kind, water-bending friend, who was always there to be their warmth, just like The Wisconsin Alumni Association.

I hope you enjoyed these connections I made! Good luck with Finals!

By Drew Jacobs

Service Days Co-Chair, Campus and Community Engagement Team